Ahdaa Basim Dawood Al-Khfaji

This study explores the critical relationship between economic development and human capital development, with a comparative analysis of Iraq and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Human capital, encompassing education, skills, and health, is essential for driving sustainable economic growth. The UAE has successfully leveraged its investment in human capital to diversify its economy, foster innovation, and enhance productivity, positioning itself as a regional economic hub. In contrast, Iraq faces significant challenges in human capital development due to socio-political instability, underinvestment in education, and insufficient healthcare systems, which hinder its economic progress. A comparative legal analysis was used to comparatively analyze policy, strategies and regulations on human capital towards economic development in the two countries. The study highlights the disparities in human capital strategies between the two nations, revealing how the UAE's proactive approach has resulted in robust economic indicators, while Iraq’s reliance on oil revenues and lack of human capital investment continue to impede its development. Suggesting the necessity for Iraq to prioritize human capital development as a pathway to sustainable economic growth, learning from the UAE's successful model.